Help in Communication Between Student & Teacher

We live in a diverse and multicultural society, where numerous different languages are spoken across the country. Teachers may often find themselves in the situation where they have new pupils who are unable to speak English. Of course, over time the pupil will pick the language up, but the challenge for teachers is to find a way in which to speed the process up or make it easier.

This is particularly true of Manor Park Primary School in Aston, Birmingham, where over 50 per cent of its pupils do not speak English. The school has become the first school in the UK to use a “Talking Tutor” computer, and give one to every student. This computer enables the pupils to type in their native language, which the computer then translates and vocalises. The teachers can then use it to respond back to the pupil. Its use is not limited to his however, useful as it is; it also allows other pupils to communicate with each other.

Naturally, not everyone is happy with this development, arguing that it stifles progress in students learning the language for themselves. Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education is one of these. He told the Daily Express
"Surely it would be better to give foreign-speaking youngsters an intensive course in English before they start school,"
"There is a danger that this computer translator will keep children within their own social group, which could be damaging to their future prospects.
"When these children leave school they will not be able to rely on translators - even more reason why they should learn how to speak English from a young age."

In defence of the scheme, the head teacher of the school has come forward stating "It can vary but at any one time we have 30-plus languages being spoken at the school, so this is invaluable to us. Last week we enrolled a pupil from Gambia who could speak only a tribal language, so we checked online to see if we had something that closely matched. We found the closest match and both child and parent could understand us."

Ultimately, they probably both have a point. While on the one hand the computers may prove to be a very helpful tool, they should not get in the way of, or slow down, the students’ progress in learning the language for themselves.